MOULTRIE, GA. — For a jail inmate, a letter can be a vital lifeline to the outside world.  Or, alternately, it could be a way of getting methamphetamine delivered to an inmate’s cell by a jail employee. At least that was the scheme police say they unraveled this week after intercepting greeting cards mailed to two inmates.

Now the two and one of the inmate’s mother are accused of taking part in a conspiracy to use the Postal Service as drug courier.

One of the inmates reportedly got information online about how to smuggle contraband in the mail, but their execution of that lesson left something to be desired. 

On Monday, two pieces of mail arrived, one each addressed to Troy Cameron Carver and Douglas Eugene Fender, said Inv. Jerome Burgess, an agent with the Colquitt County Sheriff’s Office Drug Enforcement Team.

The two envelopes had noticeable lumps that were unusual, he said.

“I received a tip that some meth may be coming into the jail, intended for two of our inmates and that the mail would be coming from Sandra Allen. 

It was apparent that the cards had been altered as there were apparent ripples and glue on the inside linings of the cards, he said.

“I took samples from the inside leaflets of the two cards. It did test positive for meth, Burgess said.”

Burgess said he spoke with Allen, who confirmed that she mailed the greeting cards.

Carver, 25, Allen’s son, and Fender, 37, are charged with use a communication facility to transact or complete a drug transaction — related to using a jail phone to plan the exchange — conspiring to provide inmates with drugs and conspiracy to cross a guard line with drugs.

Fender was arrested in February after, police said, the driver of a truck in which he was riding refused to stop for officers, drove in the oncoming lanes of Veterans Parkway, and, after driving over the embankment and through a parking lot, collided with another car as he exited onto Highway 37 East. After the truck rolled over several times, Fender got out and tried to escape on foot before he was chased down, police said.

He was charged at that time with possession of methamphetamine, obstruction of a law enforcement officer, possession of drug-related objects and abandonment of dangerous drugs.

Allen, 56, was charged with two counts of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.

She was released on a $10,000 bond.

Burgess said that the investigation is not completed and that one or more other people could be charged.

He also has contacted the U.S. Postal Service inspector in Macon to investigate.